The Girl on Taps
Hi, I’m Melissa! I’m the owner and operator of The Gather Rig, and I’m stoked you’re here. I'm born and raised in San Diego and I'm probably a typical prototype for the region - I love the beach, surfing, hiking, yoga, pickleball, travel, nature, and hanging with family and friends. I'm a certified Yoga Teacher, Personal Trainer, and Nutrition Coach, I read about 20 books a year, and I’ve been to 16+ countries. I like to describe myself as sunshine in human form, creative, fun-loving, hilarious (even if I'm the only one laughing), and thoughtful. I love hosting parties, cooking for people I love, and connecting on a soul level.
Heart Lead
I’ve been a Bartender, Restaurant Manager, Project Manager, and User Experience Designer. So why this, and why now? Because I like to take chances and I want to be intentional about how I spend my time and creative energy. I knew I’d regret it if I never tried, because owning my own business is something I’ve dreamed about for a long time. The idea took shape when I studied abroad in Australia in 2008, where I fell in love with youth hostels and solo travel. I thought that if I owned a hostel, I could facilitate the magic they create: lifelong friendships materializing, spontaneous adventures, late-night deep and meaningful conversations, and people gathering in one place to make memories. The dream of hosting those transformative experiences has evolved, but the heart of my desires hasn’t changed. With The Gather Rig, your inspired vision, your loving tribe, and a heavy pour of good vibes, we can create those once-in-a-lifetime memories together. They’re worth creating, and their value only compounds with time.
Surrendering
In early 2026, I was working on a Friday morning, half-listening to Mainstreet Millionaire, a three-day virtual entrepreneurship webinar, while reading a reply from a girl on Facebook Marketplace whom I had messaged just the day before about her teardrop camper trailer turned mobile bar. Why was I inquiring? I have no idea. The business concept looked fun and intriguing, but I certainly wasn’t looking to spend thousands of dollars on FB. Then I got a call from my boss and Barbara from HR. *Dun dunnnn* Company-wide layoffs were hitting, and I was getting the chop. It stung. We hung up, I went back into the Zoom with the 500+ person chat, and announced that I had just been laid off. I was expecting sympathy, condolences, a small riot perhaps, but that is not what I got. “IT’S A SIGN! NOW’S YOUR CHANCE! GO START A BUSINESS!” echoed through the thread. I was in that seminar because I had always wanted to start a business, but it never felt like the right time. Yet in that moment, it truly felt like a divine sign. So now I’m a first-time entrepreneur and the owner of that vintage mobile bar trailer! When the sign is that clear, you surrender and trust in God, the Universe, tea leaves, whatever—and go with it. So I did. And I can’t wait to see what's in store next.
LETS GATHER